a satisfactory health record and criminal record check through the Disclosure and Barring Service.

It's helpful if you have additional skills in areas such as: art; community and modern languages; drama; IT; music; sport.

Subjects needed: GCSEs (grade A* to C) in English, maths and science, or equivalent qualifications. passes in numeracy and literacy skills tests. some school experience to support your application. enhanced background checks by the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)

Qualifications

Unless your first degree is a Bachelor of Education (BEd) or a BA/BSc with Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), it is essential to gain QTS or, in Scotland, to have achieved the Standard for Provisional Registration (SPR) or be a fully-registered teacher in order to teach in the maintained/local authority sector.

Independent schools and academies are permitted to employ teachers without QTS but, in practice, this is uncommon.

QTS may be gained through one of the following routes:

a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE), or in Scotland a Professional Graduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) - available at many universities and colleges of higher education;

School Direct (England and Wales only) - a school-based training route with the expectation that participants will go on to work in the school, or partnership of schools, in which they trained. In most, but not all cases, a PGCE accredited by a higher education institution (HEI) will be awarded;

Teach First (England and Wales only) - a two-year programme including a PGCE where top graduates are placed in challenging schools. On completing the programme, you have the option to remain in teaching or pursue other careers.

Career path and progression

You could specialise in teaching pupils with special educational needs or move into pastoral care. With experience, you could become a specialist leader of education (SLE) supporting teachers in other schools.

You could also progress to curriculum leader, deputy head and head teacher, or become a private tutor.

What you'll do

Most teaching jobs are in state schools and academies, but you could also work in independent schools, pupil referral units and hospitals. You could also register with an agency to provide ‘supply’ cover for other teachers.

You'll teach subjects in the primary national curriculum at key stage 1 (ages 5 to 7) and key stage 2 (ages 7 to 11). Subjects include English, maths, science, music and art.

With experience you could develop a specialism in a particular subject like computing or art and design.

Your day-to-day tasks may include:

planning lessons and preparing teaching materials

marking and assessing children's work

providing a safe and healthy environment

keeping records

discussing children's progress with parents and carers

working with other professionals like education psychologists and social workers

attending meetings and training

organising outings, social activities and sports events

You may also work with under 5s in a children’s centre or a reception class in a primary school.

Working Hours

You'll usually work 37 hours a week for 39 weeks a year, split over 3 school terms. You'll spend additional time planning lessons, marking work and taking part in activities like parents' evenings and outings.

Place of work

You will have your own classroom, although you may teach elsewhere in the school to cover staff shortages or specialist subjects. You would organise the classroom and learning resources and create displays to encourage a positive learning environment.

Salary

New entrants to the profession in England, Wales and Northern Ireland start on the main salary scale, which rises incrementally from £22,467 to £33,160. Enhanced pay scales apply for teachers working in or near London.

In Scotland, the new entrants' starting salary is £22,416, plus any payments made through the Preference Waiver Scheme, rising incrementally to £35,763.

After gaining experience and expertise, particularly skilled classroom teachers in England and Wales can, where the opportunities exist, apply to go on to become a leading practitioner. Schools now have the freedom to create higher-salary posts for teachers whose primary purpose is modelling and leading improvement of teaching skills. Salaries in this bracket start at £38,984, potentially rising to over £100,000.